Left-Handed Guitar: Everything Lefties Need to Know
About one in ten people is left-handed, but only a small share of guitars on the shelf are built for lefties. Here is how to choose the right path — and avoid the mistakes many left-handed beginners make.
First, try both ways
Being left-handed does not automatically mean you should play a left-handed guitar. Both hands do demanding jobs on guitar: one frets complex shapes, the other controls rhythm and dynamics. Before buying anything, borrow or try a guitar both ways for a few minutes:
- Hold it right-handed (neck to your left) and strum some open strings in time.
- Then flip it (neck to your right) and do the same.
- Which strumming arm feels more natural and rhythmic? That is usually your answer.
Many left-handed people play right-handed guitars happily; others feel completely wrong that way. There is no right answer — only what feels natural for you.
Your three options
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Left-handed guitar (mirror image) | Feels natural; standard lessons just need mirroring | Fewer models, sometimes higher prices, can't easily borrow other people's guitars |
| Learn right-handed | Huge choice of guitars, play anyone's guitar | May feel unnatural for strongly left-handed people |
| Flip a right-handed guitar | Uses any guitar | Needs restringing and usually a new nut; saddle and controls are in the "wrong" place |
Flipping a right-handed guitar
Jimi Hendrix famously played right-handed Stratocasters turned upside down and restrung. It works, but there are compromises:
- Nut: the string slots are cut for specific gauges. Reversed, thick strings won't fit the thin slots — you need a new or re-cut nut.
- Saddle compensation: on acoustics, the saddle is angled to keep the guitar in tune. Flipped, intonation will be off. Electrics with individual saddles can be adjusted.
- Cutaway and controls: the cutaway ends up on the wrong side, and volume knobs and switches may be awkward to reach.
- Acoustic pickguards protect the wrong side of the top.
A few players, such as blues legend Albert King, played right-handed guitars flipped over without restringing — so the thinnest string is at the top. It is unusual and means all standard chord shapes must be re-learned. We don't recommend it for beginners.
Buying a left-handed guitar
- Most major brands — including Yamaha, Fender/Squier, Epiphone, Ibanez, Cordoba and Taylor — make left-handed versions of some popular models. See our beginner guitars and check for "LH" or "left-handed" in the model name.
- Choice in physical stores is limited, so buy online from a shop with a good return policy, or ask a store to order one in.
- Classical guitars are almost symmetrical; many can be converted relatively easily by a technician (new nut and saddle).
- Check the used market: left-handed guitars hold value well, and well-kept used models are common.
- Avoid buying a right-handed guitar "to convert later" unless you've priced the conversion first.
Reading chord diagrams and tab as a lefty
Good news: tablature works exactly the same — the top line is still the thinnest string. Chord diagrams need to be mirrored mentally: on a standard diagram the low E string is on the left; as a left-handed player looking at your own guitar, it appears on the right. Two tips:
- Read diagrams by string name, not by "left/right": "3rd fret on the 6th string".
- Hold your phone or tablet up behind the diagram and use the selfie camera as a mirror for difficult shapes.
Practise with our chord library — the fret numbers under each diagram tell you exactly which fret each string uses, from low E to high E.
Famous left-handed guitarists
Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Tony Iommi and Kurt Cobain all played left-handed. Being a lefty is no barrier to becoming a great player.
Learning resources for lefties
- Video lessons: many players mirror the video (some players and apps can flip video horizontally).
- Lessons with a teacher: sitting face-to-face, a right-handed teacher is already a mirror image — which is actually ideal.
- Our 30-Day Plan works identically for left-handed players.
Frequently asked questions
Should a left-handed person learn guitar right-handed?
Try both before deciding. Choose the orientation in which the strumming arm feels most natural and rhythmic. Many lefties play either way successfully.
Are left-handed guitars more expensive?
Sometimes slightly, and there are fewer models to choose from, but most major brands offer left-handed versions of popular beginner guitars.
Can a right-handed guitar be converted to left-handed?
Often yes — a technician restrings it and fits a new nut, and on acoustics may change the saddle. Controls and cutaways stay on the original side.
